January 2021

RITUAL.

I’ve upped my walking game this month. Making the most of the nearby fields and hills. I’ve especially enjoyed morning walks, sometimes with a friend or probably more times just me and my headphones.

Listening to music or podcasts whilst taking in the space and air has become the perfect way to clear my head and shift my perspective. A warm coat and walking boots have also been a game changer for this (for some reason I didn’t have a waterproof coat for a few years?)

I’ve found a few favourite routes and spots to pause and take in the view, seen some beautiful wildlife and smiled at strangers who occasionally have crossed my path.

NOURISH.

Nut & Seed m*lk (you’re no longer allowed to use the word ‘milk’ when referring to the non dairy type). I tried this years ago and it was wonderful, but there’s only so many DIY things that I can keep up at one time… Anyway, I ran out of store bought nut m*lk and thought I’d make it again. I soaked the following ingredients for a few hours, you don’t have to do this but it is more beneficial in being able to receive the nutrients from the seeds. If you plan it to soak overnight that is ideal:

• any nuts or seeds- be creative, I used a mixture of almonds, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, 1-2 handfuls

• 1-2 dates

• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract if you want to make it extra tasty

• 500ml water

Blend together and strain with a sieve, you can also use a nutbag or muslin cloth to make it extra smooth! Keeps for 2-3 days in the fridge.

SELF PRACTICE.

My self practice has not changed very much during these winter months. But I would consider reading and re-reading a number of yoga and buddhist books the most prominent part of my self practice this month.

I have also begun studying Sanskrit. The Samadhi Collective are teaching some wonderful beginners classes via zoom. These incredibly knowledgable and creative sisters have some impressive education in yoga and Sanskrit. I highly recommend taking a look at their instagram page which has some very informative posts and beautiful artwork.

SELF STUDY.

I have been reading A LOT, mainly books on yoga history and philosophy. But I also like to have a book to wind down with a bit, to read before bed or in the morning. A book had been on my radar for a while ‘The Great Work of Your Life’ by Stephen Cope. I wasn’t aware until I started reading but it turned out that the author is a yogi himself and the book is a non-formal analysis of the Bhagavad Gita, in that it is taking a look at this famous, ancient story and weaving in stories of the journeys of a number of great people, with their trials and tribulations to achieve success in finding their ‘dharma’. It was a brilliant way to digest some of the lessons within the Bhagavad Gita and to be inspired by the life stories of people such as Beethoven and Gandi. People who you only really know about their achievements, not so much about the paths they had taken to find themselves there. Some parts of the book have really stuck with me and kept me thinking about them for days. A reminder of how similar our struggles are as humans, that whoever we are, we no doubt will meet a number of the same challenges, heartbreaking course correcting lessons and humbling circumstances.